– l’appréciation négative et dérogatoire de la personnalité de M.Barnier est hors de propos et surtout erronée au vu de son rang, de son expérience, de son indépendance et de son engagement pro-européen,

]]>Comment on Brexit: the urgent need for a Plan B by Jean Claude BANONhttp://danielgueguen.blogactiv.eu/2016/07/11/brexit-the-urgent-need-for-a-plan-b/#comment-23
Wed, 20 Jul 2016 18:01:02 +0000http://danielgueguen.blogactiv.eu/?p=298#comment-23All members of the EU participate in the Single Market, whilst others like Norway and Switzerland have gained access to it. All have accepted certain rules including the four basic freedoms. That is the smaller common denominator from a trade and economic standpoint.

A number of members have elected to adopt a single currency and must of necessity integrate further their economic and fiscal policy. That is a de facto second ‘economic’ circle.

However the European construction has several other dimensions already in existence or to be developed: social policy, Schengen, internal security, immigration, defense. A strict ‘a la carte’ approach could subdivise membership into a large number of circles with differing interests beyond the basic dimension of access to the Single Market with or without membership of the Euro. It may indeed be the practical way forward: an ‘ever closer association’ a la carte.

It is not clear how such a process can be put in train: the Commission is subservient to the Council or to its ‘main’ members; and members of the Council are focused on their domestic issues…

Whichever way a reform is tackled, it seems paramount to listen to the European citizens and their worries in terms of employment, security and governance. One should ideally want them to buy into the reform to prevent the spread of euro-scepticism and nationalism. A challenge worth tackling!